Trimming board



March 28, 1944. B N 2,345,450

TRIMMING BOARD Filed April 21, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 28, 1944.

A. l. BLANC TRIMMING BOARD Filed April 21, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 has Midi k1." Elan/0.

Patented Mar. 28, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" 1 2,345,450 TRIMMING BOARD Adolph I. Blane, Chicago, 111.

Application April 21, 1943, Serial No. 483,905

2 Claims.

My invention relates to trimming boards and the like.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a trimming board having improved means for making guide adjustments with a high degree of facility and accuracy.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a trimming board which is simple and durable in construction and efficient in operation.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing structural features of the guide.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of my improved trimming board showing the guide member at its extreme right position.

Fig. 5'is a cross-sectional view of a modified construction.

Referring to the drawings, my improved trimming board comprises a rectangular base member l2 formed preferably of wood and having two strips l3 and [4 running against the grain of the base to provide a support therefor and to form a rigid structure.

The base member I2 is recessed along one side to accommodate a metal strip l5, provided with a cutting edge l6 and adapted to cooperate with the cutting knife I8 to produce a shearing action. The face of the base member (2 is divided into suitable unit squares by a series of equally spaced engraved lines which present a contrasting color to the base surface. Graduated scales and 21 are provided along the top and bottom edges of the base to facilitate the making of fractional adjustments.

A straight edge abutment 23, projecting above the plane of the base I2 and comprising a strip of material undercut longitudinally as at 25 is secured by suitable screws along one edge of the base [2, at right angles to the cutting edge IS.

The guide strip 21, an enlarged view of which is shown in Fig. 2, comprises a strip 29 to which are secured, as by screws, the members 36 and 3|, presently to be described.

The member 30 is formed preferably by stamping and comprises a vertical portion 33, provided with a flange 34, and an upper horizontally disposed portion 36 preferably offset, as shown, to provide clearance. An ear 3'! is integrally formed with the horizontal portion 38 and is threaded to receive a set screw 38. The member is secured to the strip 29 byscrews.

Suitably secured to the other end of the guide strip 29 is the member 3|, formed preferably by stamping and comprising an elongated vertical portion 39, provided with an inturned flange 4|. The upper area of said vertical portion is of reduced width and terminates in a horizontally directed flange :43, which is adapted to overlay the end portion of the guide strip 29. A set screw 45 is received in a threaded aperture provided in the vertical portion.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, in assembled relation, the flange 34 is received in the recess 25 and is adapted for sliding engagement therein. The set screw 38 is adapted to engage the top of the abutment 23 and when suitably tightened serves to clamp the member 30 to the abutment 23.

The flange 4| of the member 3| is adapted to slidably engage the under surface of the base member l2. It will be noted that the reinforcing strip I4 is spaced from the edge of the base to accommodate the flange 4|. The set screw 45 serves to clamp the guide 21 to the base to prevent relative movement.

Since the members 30 and 3| are relatively elongated and are rigidly secured to the strip 29, the strip is permanently maintained at right angles to the abutment 23, and parallel to the cutting edge I6. The guide member 21 may be removed from the base member I2 only by sliding off of the base in a direction away from the cutting edge I6. The clearance provided between the parts is such that the guide strip 29 is caused to lie on the surface of the base member and is freely slidable thereover, thereby permitting easy adjustment, while at the same time preventing even a single sheet of paper from slipping under the strip 29.

It will be particularly noted that even in the extreme right hand position of the guide strip, as shown in Fig. 4, there is very little overhanging of any of the parts over the boundaries of the base member. My construction overcomes this undesirable feature inherent in some of the prior art constructions.

It will also be noted that because securement of the guide 21 is efiected substantially along the edges of the base member l2, 8. maximum surface area is made available for gauging the trimming of paper or the like.

The cutting knife I8 is pivotally mounted at one corner of the base member l2 and is arranged to cooperate with the cutting edge [6 to produce a shearing action. The knife l8 preferably comprises a handle 44 and shank 46 to which is removably secured a knife blade 41.

Secured to the underside of the base I2 is an L shaped member 48 adapted. for receiving and supporting the guide 21 when it is desired to have the guide out of service. To effect the same, it is merely required to slide the guide across the surface of the base l2 and to drop the guide onto the member l2. The guide is thereby supported" below the surface of the base and is removed from interference should the full area of the base surface be desired to be used. 7 a

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 5,

the straight edge abutment 23' is bevelled longii tudinally, as shown tov providean angular undercut 25.. The member 36 is provided 'with'acor.- respondingly shaped portion with thefiange 34 engaging the undercut 25.

From the foregoing, itwill be: seen that I have provided a trimmingboardwhich provides 'for a maximum of working area, which is simple in construction and in which the. guide strip is maintained inalinement with. the cutting edge.

It is to be understood thatfthe form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is'to be taken as apreferred example of the same, and that various: changes in the shape, size and arrangement ofparts maybe resorted to, without departingfrom the scope .of the-appended claims.

I claim:

1. A trimming board of'the character described, comprising a rectangularbase member having ametal cutting edge along one side thereof, a cuttingv knife pivoted to said base member and clamping means positioned laterally of said guide strip in the direction of the cutting edge for clamping said guide strip in desired position .-and also in a position away from the cutting edge to expose the entire trimming board area.

2. A trimming board of the character described, comprising a rectangular base member having a metal cutting edge along one side there- .of,;a. cutting. knife pivoted to said base member and adapted to cooperate with said metal cutting edge to produce shearing action, a straight edge .abutment having an undercut recess and mounted on said basemember at right angles to said cutting edge, a guide strip provided with upper'and lower end members, each of said members formed of an elongated vertical portion provided with a lower inturned flange arranged for slidable engagement in the recess of said straight edge abutment andwith the underside of the opposite edge of said base member and an upperinturnedfiange adapted for securement to' said guide strip, said guide strip being movable on said base member.only in parallel relation to said cutting edge, a clamping member positioned inthe vertical portionof the lower end member and an independently acting clamping member positioned in. the upper end member to engage the top ofssaidabutment.

ADOLPH I. BLANC. 

